I started new section in our FAQ :
http://www.personal-view.com/faqs/camera-usage/recommended-books-faq
Already added few books.
And want to ask you to post your favourite books here, so I could add best ones.
Adventures in the Screen Trade - William Goldman Very entertaining story of screenwriting in Hollywood
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Screen-Trade-William-Goldman-ebook/dp/B007Z7UDF8
Tales From Development Hell - David Hughes: About great films that never got made and the disasters that caused their failure
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MLDJUJQ/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o04_?ie=UTF8&psc=1
In the Blink of an Eye - Walter Murch As mentioned by others, really good book
Good book about story telling/screen writing: "Into the Woods" by John Yorke
Soon we'll have new topic and updated list in FAQ
But today more important stuff
Amazon today
$10 off any book order of $25 or more from Amazon
Use code HOLIDAYBOOK.
Sound books
Producing Great Sound for Film and Video
http://www.amazon.com/Producing-Great-Sound-Film-Video/dp/0415722071
Audio Postproduction for Film and Video
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Postproduction-Video-After---Shoot/dp/0240809718
I was lucky enough to find a very good book for pennies in a book store (french version)
You can find it online between 50€ to 500$ (!) or sometimes get lucky like me : jump on it. Beside beeing a very enjoyable sum-up of his carreer (from his first shorts in Cuba, to oscarized work like Days of heaven), it's full of practical advice and original techniques on lighting, framing, etc. It will definitly influence your work/vision, no matter the budget you have (or don't) for you next masterpiece.
Wow this is becoming my favourite thread. I love all the books mentioned here. Let's add :
I'll add more when I get to my den.
Magnum Contact Sheets [Hardcover]
It's quite large book. Interestingly the contact sheets from film era sorta do storytelling.
http://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Contact-Sheets-Kristen-Lubben/dp/0500543992
Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers by Marcos Mateu-Mestre http://www.amazon.com/Framed-Ink-Drawing-Composition-Storytellers/dp/1933492953
I really liked the book. So true. If I can't imagine, I can't capture.
The author's blog http://marcosmateu.blogspot.com is full of lovely illustrations.
I just ordered his new book "Trail of Steel: 1441 A.D." http://www.amazon.com/Trail-Steel-D-Marcos-Mateu-Mestre/dp/1933492783?tag=argonzark
Think in 3D, book about shooting in 3D, Kindle edition is now $0.00
One that I study along with watching Kieslowski's films . . .
The Films of Krzysztof Kieslowski: The Liminal Image
LED Lighting: Professional Techniques for Digital Photographers
http://www.amazon.com/LED-Lighting-Professional-Techniques-Photographers/dp/1608954471
Bresson's notes on the cinematographer is awesome! its like a collection of Haikus on film making. Its like yoda talking about making films.
I liked sculpting in time a lot, too. But like Tarkovskys films, which are among my favourites, its often abstract, full of metaphysical stuff. While Bresson is like a straight arrow.
Are there any recommanded books or ebooks about
If anyone knows aswell a good forum/webpage about Documentary/Wildlife/Outdoor filming, I would appreaciate a link. So many things only about hollywood style movies, but didnt find much about the mentioned examples.
Really liked this eBook as a screenwriter/ really good guide into the best Agencies to submit too when submitting work etc. http://flagarticle.blogspot.com/p/ebook.html
Emmet/
Words from the master.
Definitely Painting with Light by the legendary John Alton. Other brilliant books:
Notes on the Cinematographer - Bresson
Sculpting in Time - Tarkovsky
Hitchcock - Truffaut
Film Directing Fundamentals - Nicholas Proferes
The Five C's - Joseph Mascelli
Cinematic Storytelling - Jennifer van Sijll
I made a list of nominations, to see the preferred books:
Sculpting in Time - 6 nominations
The filmmaker´s eye - 4 nominations
Cinematography theory and practice - 4 nominations
In the blink of an eye - 4 nominations
Master shots vol.2 - 3 nominations
Film Directing shot by shot - 3 nominations
Grammar of the Film Language - 3 nominations
Notes on the Cinematographer - 3 nominations
What is cinema - 2 nominations
Filmmaker´s handbook - 2 nominations
The visual story - 2 nominations
The five C´s - 2 nominations
Truffaut - 2 nominations
Film Directing Fundamentals - 2 nominations
Painting with Light - 2 nominations
On Filmmaking - 2 nominations
Updated at July 24
Doy, I got myself so sidetracked on that dumb rant I forgot why I was posting, which was to recommend Nestor Almendros' A Man With A Camera.
I know I'd like to hear em, luxis. I didn't start the topic or anything and I'm only speaking for me, but I'm far more interested in the aesthetic/philosophy/theory side, the personal view, I suppose, and don't care to ever crack open another technical rag, or the professional view, I suppose. (not that they're not worth it, but if you don't understand basic film grammar, I wonder if you haven't seen many movies, since 90 percent of them all look and sound exactly the same. Best way to learn: Watch - Shoot. (the "Stanley Kubrick film school.") Just watch Godard's "Notre Musique" for all the discussion of shot/counter shot you'll ever need, and then dive into "Histoires du Cinema". Cuts down on the reading! More fun! I'm kidding, but....) Now the Gladwell angle, and all the marketing stuff, that's the fuck-me-swinging side, I suppose. Yikes. But that's what's cool about this site. Pretty all encompassing. (and we gotta keep "Sculpting In Time" on top folks! Even if the English translation is a little iffy...)
Wim Wenders:
The Act of Seeing
The Logic of Images
Sorry, these are for when money is not present ; ) Not so practical on camera techniques, but still a good inspiration i think since technique without thought process is just as mechanical as the camera itself :)
I have a few more of these but not sure if off topic.
Thanks for your input.
Two fantastic books on editing. Both are indispensable.
The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film http://www.amazon.com/Conversations-Walter-Murch-Editing-Film/dp/0375709827
In the Blink of an Eye http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Revised-2nd-Edition/dp/1879505622/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340912717&sr=1-1&keywords=in+the+blink+of+an+eye
And how about more specific books about areas where money actually are present?
I mean corporative films, professional interviews, weddings, etc.. May be some marketing for small firms.@VK
I think that possibly the books regarding lighting would be good for interviews... Ironically most corporate clients now days want "AVATAR" - so great cinematic language books are a must... As for weddings- I thought that was a contact sport? Maybe some sort of great sportsman's biog?
For marketing I would suggest reading ALL of Malcolm Gladwell's books... so many insights into marketing,.. and saleability, as most of the time one has to work out 'what' one is selling- then everything falls into place...
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